Before You Want to Write a
Book
Are you a writer who
has just finished writing a book? If you
are a first time author, you may be unsure as to how you should proceed, in
terms of getting your book published. If
that is the case, you will want to continue reading on, as a number of steps
that you will want to take are highlighted below.
One of the first things
that you will need to do is familiarize yourself with publishers. In addition to knowing where to send your
book manuscript and who it should be addressed to, you will want to learn as
much about the publisher in question as possible. What type of themes are they looking
for? Will your book be a good fit? Are there are rules or restrictions in terms
of formatting that you need to abide by?
Does the publisher in question only accept agented submissions? These are all important questions that you
need to have answers to.
As for how you can go
about finding book publishers, you will be pleased with all of your
options. You can look at the books that
you own, the books in your local library, or the books in your local
bookstores. Make note the publishers and
perform a standard internet search with their names. Next, look for a section for writer’s guidelines. You can also perform a generalized standard
internet search, such as with the phrase “book publishers.” There are also a number of printed resources,
like the popular Writer’s Market books, that you can use as well.
As previously stated,
you will want to learn what rules and restrictions publishing companies may
have. If you can’t find this information
online or in print, be sure to use your best judgment. Make sure that your book manuscript and all
other documents are easy to read, formatted properly, and clean. Also, be sure to include a cover letter and a
book proposal. Many authors choose to
merge these two documents together. You
can, but, be careful. Cover letters and
book proposals should be right to the point and not clouded with too much
information.
You should also
consider using the services of professional literary agent and editor. They can be costly, but they are typically
more than worth the costs. No matter how
good you are at proofreading, you will likely miss some errors. A second set of professional eyes are
advised. As for literary agents, they
too have a number of benefits. If the
publishers that fit your book the best only accept agented submissions, it may
be in your best interest to hire a professional literary agent. They can help get your book into doors that
you couldn’t.
As for follow-ups, they
are okay, but also be sure to use your best judgment. Most publishers outline on their websites how
long it should take for you to receive a response, like in two to four months. If you do not receive a response by that
time, consider placing a phone call or sending a letter to the publisher in
question. For your own protection
though, do not make contact before the estimated response time.
By taking the above
mentioned points into consideration, you may be able to see your book in print
soon. As a reminder however, do not be
scared of rejection letters. They are
common, but that does not mean that you should give up.
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